3Dprintsy / A history in motion

Built one layer
at a time.

Follow the ideas, experiments and machines that changed how we make. Scroll through the story. Stay for the evidence.

AI-generated editorial artwork · not an archival machine
The complete archive / 86 records
1981
01 / 86 · Invention

Kodama publishes layered photopolymer research

Kodama's paper appeared in Review of Scientific Instruments, volume 52, issue 11, pages 1770–1773, in November 1981. This milestone marks a published research method, rather than the launch of a commercial desktop printer.

Published research · light and successive sections. Conceptual illustration.
Published research · light and successive sectionsConceptual illustration · not a historical machine replica
1984
02 / 86 · Invention

Hull files the stereolithography patent application

The application for US4575330A was filed on August 8, 1984. Its method builds an object from successive sections of a curable liquid medium. The filing date is distinct from the patent's 1986 publication and the later commercial machine.

Patent filing · successive cured sections. Conceptual illustration.
Patent filing · successive cured sectionsConceptual illustration · not a historical machine replica
1986
03 / 86 · Industry

Stereolithography moves toward an industry

3D Systems dates its founding to 1986. Hull's US4575330A patent document was published on March 11 that year. The separate 1987 commercialization milestone concerns the SLA-1 printer, so the founding, patent record, and product introduction should not be collapsed into one event.

Research becomes an industry. Conceptual illustration.
Research becomes an industryConceptual illustration · not a historical machine replica
1986
04 / 86 · 3D Systems

Company founded

Chuck Hull co-founded 3D Systems.

A company takes shape. Conceptual illustration.
A company takes shapeConceptual illustration · not a historical machine replica
1987
05 / 86 · Industry

The SLA-1 reaches the commercial market

The company's history dates SLA-1 commercialization to 1987. The machine helped turn digital part geometry into physical prototypes using light-cured resin. This timeline describes the commercial introduction separately from the preceding research and patent milestones.

From digital geometry to a physical prototype. Conceptual illustration.
From digital geometry to a physical prototypeConceptual illustration · not a historical machine replica
1989
07 / 86 · Invention

Deckard's selective sintering patent is granted

US4863538A lists Carl R. Deckard as inventor and the University of Texas System as original assignee. The application was filed on October 17, 1986; the patent was published and granted on September 5, 1989. The earlier filing and later grant are different milestones.

A beam selectively joins a powder layer. Conceptual illustration.
A beam selectively joins a powder layerConceptual illustration · not a historical machine replica
1989
08 / 86 · Invention

Crump files an extrusion-printing application

The application for US5121329A was filed on October 30, 1989 and granted on June 9, 1992. It describes building a predetermined object by depositing layers of material that solidify after dispensing. This is a patent filing milestone, not a claim that all material extrusion began on that date.

A deposited toolpath becomes a solid form. Conceptual illustration.
A deposited toolpath becomes a solid formConceptual illustration · not a historical machine replica
1993
09 / 86 · Invention

MIT’s binder-printing approach is patented

MIT’s retrospective dates the patent to 1993 and credits the work of Emanuel Sachs and Michael Cima. Its powder-and-binder approach is distinct from laser sintering: material is joined with a binder rather than directly fused by the beam.

Binder joins particles in a powder bed. Conceptual illustration.
Binder joins particles in a powder bedConceptual illustration · not a historical machine replica
1996
10 / 86 · 3D Systems

MultiJet Printing

3D Systems' timeline records bringing MultiJet Printing machines to market.

Material droplets form a cross-section. Conceptual illustration.
Material droplets form a cross-sectionConceptual illustration · not a historical machine replica
2005
11 / 86 · Open source

The RepRap project begins

RepRap contributor Ed Sells' University of Bath thesis dates the project's initiation to 2005. Its goal was assisted self-replication: printed components would be combined with standard parts and assembled by people. It did not mean printing motors, electronics, or an entire machine without outside components.

Share designs and printable components. Conceptual illustration.
Share designs and printable componentsConceptual illustration · not a historical machine replica
2008
13 / 86 · RepRap

Replication milestone

On May 29, a Darwin-produced set of printable parts was used for another Darwin, assembled in New Zealand and tested in Bath.

Printed parts help build another printer. Conceptual illustration.
Printed parts help build another printerConceptual illustration · not a historical machine replica
2011
17 / 86 · Formlabs

Formlabs is founded

The company's October 2021 retrospective marks its tenth anniversary and describes its origins at MIT.

An idea becomes a company. Conceptual illustration.
An idea becomes a companyConceptual illustration · not a historical machine replica
2011
19 / 86 · voxeljet

VX4000 brings four-meter sand printing

The manufacturer unveiled a system with a 4 × 2 × 1 m build space and interchangeable building platforms.

A large sand-printing platform. Conceptual illustration.
A large sand-printing platformConceptual illustration · not a historical machine replica
2012
23 / 86 · Prusa

Prusa Research founded

Josef Průša established Prusa Research after joining the RepRap community in 2009.

A company grows from an open-source community. Conceptual illustration.
A company grows from an open-source communityConceptual illustration · not a historical machine replica
2013
25 / 86 · MakerBot

Stratasys acquisition

Stratasys completed its acquisition of MakerBot on August 15.

An acquisition connects two businesses. Conceptual illustration.
An acquisition connects two businessesConceptual illustration · not a historical machine replica
2013
26 / 86 · Pollen AM

Pollen AM incorporated

The company dates its incorporation to September 2013 after two years of research and development.

Research and development become a company. Conceptual illustration.
Research and development become a companyConceptual illustration · not a historical machine replica
2014
28 / 86 · Research

JPL explores changing metal composition during a build

JPL’s July 28, 2014 report describes altering the metal-powder composition during deposition. The research explores transitions between different metal compositions in one object; it is a research milestone, not a claim that every metal printer can mix arbitrary alloys.

Material composition changes during deposition. Conceptual illustration.
Material composition changes during depositionConceptual illustration · not a historical machine replica
2014
29 / 86 · Space manufacturing

A printer makes a part aboard the ISS

NASA reports that ground controllers commanded the faceplate print on November 24, 2014, after calibration prints earlier that month. NASA and Made In Space developed the demonstration to investigate manufacturing in microgravity. This was a polymer-printing experiment, separate from later metal-printing work.

A polymer-printing experiment in orbit. Conceptual illustration.
A polymer-printing experiment in orbitConceptual illustration · not a historical machine replica
2014
30 / 86 · Creality

Company established

Creality's official timeline records its founding and first printer development.

A manufacturer takes shape. Conceptual illustration.
A manufacturer takes shapeConceptual illustration · not a historical machine replica
2014
32 / 86 · SprintRay

Company origins in Los Angeles

SprintRay's company page dates its founding in Los Angeles to 2014.

A company begins in Los Angeles. Conceptual illustration.
A company begins in Los AngelesConceptual illustration · not a historical machine replica
2015
33 / 86 · Invention

Continuous liquid interface production is published

John R. Tumbleston and colleagues' Science paper appeared online on March 16, 2015 and in the March 20 issue. The method uses an oxygen-permeable window to maintain an uncured region at the interface. This record refers to the research publication, not a universal speed claim for resin printers.

A part rises above an uncured interface. Conceptual illustration.
A part rises above an uncured interfaceConceptual illustration · not a historical machine replica
2016
36 / 86 · Industry

HP introduces commercial Jet Fusion systems

HP's announcement is dated May 17, 2016. It described the printers and their associated processing workflow, with the 4200 scheduled for late-2016 delivery and the 3200 for 2017. Those delivery dates were plans in the announcement, rather than independently verified shipment dates.

Fusing agent is followed by thermal energy. Conceptual illustration.
Fusing agent is followed by thermal energyConceptual illustration · not a historical machine replica
2016
38 / 86 · Pollen AM

Pam commercial launch

The first Pam pellet additive manufacturing printer was unveiled at Viva Technology in Paris in June–July 2016.

Pellets feed an additive manufacturing process. Conceptual illustration.
Pellets feed an additive manufacturing processConceptual illustration · not a historical machine replica
2017
41 / 86 · Creality

Ender family appears

The company timeline dates the Ender-series family to 2017; this is not treated as a verified Ender-3 launch date.

The Ender family enters the timeline. Conceptual illustration.
The Ender family enters the timelineConceptual illustration · not a historical machine replica
2017
43 / 86 · Freemelt

Freemelt is founded

The company retrospective dates its founding to 2017 and describes the goal of more open metal additive platforms.

An open metal-printing platform begins. Conceptual illustration.
An open metal-printing platform beginsConceptual illustration · not a historical machine replica
2017
44 / 86 · Pollen AM

Pam Series P

The company records the second Pam generation launching in February 2017 following market feedback.

A second pellet-printing generation. Conceptual illustration.
A second pellet-printing generationConceptual illustration · not a historical machine replica
2019
48 / 86 · Research

Tomographic light patterns form a volume at once

Kelly and colleagues’ Science paper appeared online on January 31, 2019, with the issue dated March 8. The method uses changing light patterns to form the object throughout a rotating volume. It illustrates why layer-by-layer is a useful explanation for many additive methods, but not a universal description of every research approach.

Changing light patterns form a volume. Conceptual illustration.
Changing light patterns form a volumeConceptual illustration · not a historical machine replica
2019
49 / 86 · Formlabs

LFS and the dental branch

Form 3 and Form 3L were announced April 2. Form 3B and the dental business unit followed November 12.

A resin platform branches into dental workflows. Conceptual illustration.
A resin platform branches into dental workflowsConceptual illustration · not a historical machine replica
2020
54 / 86 · Formlabs

Large-format resin expansion

Form 3L began shipping in September. Form 3BL was announced September 9 for larger dental workloads.

Large-format resin and dental workflows. Conceptual illustration.
Large-format resin and dental workflowsConceptual illustration · not a historical machine replica
2022
60 / 86 · Formlabs

Plus-generation revisions

Form 3+ and Form 3B+ launched and shipped January 4. Fuse 1+ 30W was announced July 13.

Resin and powder platforms are revised. Conceptual illustration.
Resin and powder platforms are revisedConceptual illustration · not a historical machine replica
2023
66 / 86 · Pollen AM

Ceramics business in Belgium

A subsidiary dedicated to technical ceramics was established in Mons in October 2023.

A ceramics business takes shape in Mons. Conceptual illustration.
A ceramics business takes shape in MonsConceptual illustration · not a historical machine replica
2024
69 / 86 · Space manufacturing

Metal printing reaches the space-station laboratory

ESA’s September 6, 2024 announcement reports that its technology demonstrator completed a metal shape in orbit in August. This extends the in-space manufacturing story beyond the earlier polymer experiment. The result is an experimental milestone, not evidence of an operational orbital factory.

A metal-printing experiment in orbit. Conceptual illustration.
A metal-printing experiment in orbitConceptual illustration · not a historical machine replica
2024
70 / 86 · Colibrium Additive

GE Additive becomes Colibrium Additive

A June 2024 company article confirms the rebrand; it is a continuation of the business rather than a separate new manufacturer.

One business adopts a new name. Conceptual illustration.
One business adopts a new nameConceptual illustration · not a historical machine replica
2024
71 / 86 · Formlabs

LFD replaces the scanning-laser approach in Form 4

Form 4 and Form 4B were announced April 17, followed by Form 4L and Form 4BL on October 15. These use LED/LCD masked exposure.

LED and LCD expose a cross-section. Conceptual illustration.
LED and LCD expose a cross-sectionConceptual illustration · not a historical machine replica
2024
72 / 86 · Pollen AM

pam o2 generation

The company dates its fifth printer generation, pam o2, to November 2024.

A fifth printer generation. Conceptual illustration.
A fifth printer generationConceptual illustration · not a historical machine replica
2025
75 / 86 · ExOne

ExOne and voxeljet join a common holding structure

The October 23 announcement states that ExOne Global Holdings combined the two businesses and would integrate their operations and support.

Two businesses enter a common holding structure. Conceptual illustration.
Two businesses enter a common holding structureConceptual illustration · not a historical machine replica
2025
77 / 86 · Pollen AM

Pam Pro launch

Pam Pro was launched in June 2025 as a larger-volume professional production offering.

A larger-volume professional platform. Conceptual illustration.
A larger-volume professional platformConceptual illustration · not a historical machine replica
2025
80 / 86 · voxeljet

ExOne and voxeljet join a common holding structure

The October 23 announcement states that ExOne Global Holdings combined the two businesses and would integrate their operations and support.

A common structure connects two businesses. Conceptual illustration.
A common structure connects two businessesConceptual illustration · not a historical machine replica
2026
84 / 86 · Formlabs

Fuse X1 and Form Studio 1 announcements

Fuse X1 was announced June 9 with Q4 delivery plans. Form Studio 1 followed October 14 with shipping planned for November 16; planned dates are not shipment verification.

Two announcements with future delivery plans. Conceptual illustration.
Two announcements with future delivery plansConceptual illustration · not a historical machine replica
Read between the dates

Many beginnings.
One evolving field.

Research, patent filing, patent publication, company formation and product shipment describe different events. This history keeps those distinctions visible rather than assigning every additive process to a single inventor.

What the evidence can tell us

Patent records establish dates and disclosed methods. Research papers describe experiments. Company announcements document what a manufacturer reported; they do not independently prove performance or market leadership.

Each record links to its references and retains their review dates. This is a selected archive, not an exhaustive history.

Sources are linked directly in each milestone.